Syringe



A.'E. KRUG April 20, 1954 SYRINGE Filed July 9, 1949 y &

#Meri i HTTOR/VEYS Patented Apr. 20, 1954 SYRINGE Albert E. Krug, Hawthorne, N. J., assignor to Becton Dickinson and Company, Rutherford, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 9, 1949, Serial No. 103,841

(Cl. 12S-218) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved syringe assembly to be used for the hypodermic injection of medicaments.

It is an object of the invention to furnish structures of this type and in which a medicament, for example, in the form of a dry powder and a diluent therefor may be maintained in separate compartments until the injection is to be made. With such segregation of the materials the physician will be assured that, for example, the powder is of precisely the standard desired and even if the unit has been manufactured some time previously. By a simple manipulation of the parts the diluent and powder may be mixed together; a proper solution being conveniently assured by suitable agitation. Thereupon the solution may be injected in the usual manner.

A still further object is that of furnishing a structure of this type which will embody a relatively simple design to furnish units which may be manufactured in large quantities and at nominal cost. Moreover, the parts may be used with assurance that proper operation will occur under all conditions.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention and in which- Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of a syringe assembly with the parts thereof in initial condition;

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating a step in the manipulation of these parts;

Fig. 3 shows the iinal disposition of these parts with respect to each other;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end view of an alternative form of the syringe; and

Fig. 5 shows an ampule assembly embodying the present teachings.

Referring primarily to Figs. l to 3, the numeral I indicates the barrel of a syringe which is preferably formed of glass. Adjacent its rear or open end the barrel may provide a flange I! and adjacent its forward end a tip or needle mounting portion I2 is preferably furnished. These parts may be modified in numerous dierent manners and as will be appreciated are more orless of conventional design.

In accordance with the present teachings, the rear end of the syringe barrel is closed by, for example, a stopper I3 of the lpiston type. This stopper is conveniently formed of rubber and may havev a threaded stem I4 extending from its rear face. Intermediate` the ends of the barrel a second and similar stopper I is disposed.

In this manner the barrel is divided into compartments I6 and I'I. The former may receive a diluent and the latter receives a medicament, for example, in the form of a dry powder.

A stylet or rod i8 of stainless steel, plastic, or any inert material, extends through and beyond the bore of the tip I2 and through the compartment ll as well as an opening or bore formed through the stopper I5. That opening or bore should have a diameter initially less than the diameter of rod IB. Therefore with the latter in position as shown in Fig. l, a fluid tight seal is provided. such that diluent may not escape from compartment I6 to compartment I'I.

The tip I2 is preferably encased by a cap or tube I9 which again may be formed with an outer threaded recess 2I capable of receiving and engaging with the threads of stem extension I4. These parts may thus be coupled so that a physician may, before injecting, cause reciprocation of the stopper for aspirating purposes. The stem III--as shown-may be a separate element formed of stainless steel or any inert material. Otherwise, it may extend as a part of stopper I3. In any event, it should be preferably xed with respect to the latter. As will be understood, with the tube I9 encasing the tip, the latter may be sterilized and will remain in that condition until the tube is dismounted.

While as shown the tip I2 is furnished with merely'tapered surfaces, it will be appreciated that the surfaces might be modified in any desired manner so as to receive and properly mount the huh` of a hypodermic needle. Such a needle has been shown at 22 in Figs. 2 and 3. With the parts constructed as illustrated, it will, of course, be understood that in accordance with conventional practice a properly sterilized needle including a suitable hub portion is merely fitted on the tip. The cooperating surfaces will provide a leak proof structure and Will assure that the needle will not be accidentally dislodged.

As afore brought out, when it is desired to utilize the apparatus, the tube I9 is dismounted. Thereafter the physician or other person making the injection with withdraw the stylet or rod I8. Under these circumstances the passage through stopper I5 will not be obstructed. The needle 22, as afore described may now be mounted on the tip I2. Tube I9 may be coupled with stopper I3 or otherwise be brought into bearing engagement with the same. axial thrust, stopper I3 is projected towards the stopper I5 as shown in Fig. 2. This will cause Thereupon by exerting i internal and external diameters.

3 diluent to ow through the bore of stopper I5 into chamber of compartment I1. Air within that compartment will be vented through the bore of tip I2 during this operation.

This action is continued until the diluent is all transferred to compartment I'I. During the projection of stopper I3 the operator should, of course, not use such force and haste that the diluent in transferring Will move stopper I5. The physician may now shake the entire assembly to assure creation of a proper solution. At that time it will be understood that stopper I3 will be in bearing contact with stopper I5. Therefore continued projection on the part of tube I9 or its equivalent will cause both Stoppers to move in unison. During the initial stage of that move- Y ment the syringe may be inclined upwardly in accordance with conventional technique so that all air will be discharged from the cannula. The injection may now follow customary procedure, it being understood that continued projection of the stoppers I3 and I5 will result in the expulsion of all the medicament as in Fig, 3.

Under certain circumstances it may be preferable not to use a tube Iii as afore described to protect the tip. In such a case, and as suggested in Fig. 4, the tip I2 may mount a cap 2li conveniently provided of rubber and formed with a bore of restricted diameter through which the rod or stylet 23 projects. may be angularly extended as at 25 and the cap 2li may be formed with a series of ridges 25. As Will be understood, with this type of apparatus the user will simply grasp the cap E4 and pull the same. This will result in removal of the cap and Withdrawal of the rod 23 and consequently an opening of the passage through the stopper I5. A. hypodermic needle may now be mounted on the tip with complete assurance that the sterility of the parts will be maintained. The procedure for mixing the solution will be as afore described.

The teachings of the present invention are also applicable to ampules. More especially as shown in Fig. 5 a tubular body 2, preferably of glass, is provided of proper length and with suitable Oney end of the ampule is closed by a piston type stopper 28, the opposite'end thereof being closed by a suitable stopper 29. Intermediate these stopper-s is a stopper. 3i! of the same general character as stopper VIt. A rod 3i, corresponding to rod I8, extends Vthrough perforations or bores in Stoppers 29V and 30. Preferably stopper 29 isY merely pierced by rod 3l which sealingly engages therewith. To opposite sides of the stopper 30, compartments 32 and 33 -are provided; the former conveniently receiving the diluent and the"latter the medicament which may be in the form of dry powder. The bore or perforation through stopper 3U, While smaller in diameter than rod 3|, remains open after the withdrawal of that rod and in a manner similar to that heretofore described in'connection with Figs. 1 to 3. The opening or perforation through stopper 29 should preferably be of such nature that it is capable of self-sealing or substantially completely closing as the rod is withdrawn. As shown, the recess of stopper 28 is faced outwardly so that it will not be pierced by the inner end of the needle when technique such as ighereafter is followed.

An ampule of'this type is usable in connection wtih syringe barrels-kof various designs. Preferably these barrels should have post or thrust portions beyond which the inner'end of The end of the latterV a double ended needle may extend as taught, for example, in the prior United States patents to Hein No. 1,817,003 of August 4, 1931 or Hall No. 1,848,711 of March 8, 1932. Using such structures the rod SI is withdrawn to establish communication between compartments 32 and 33. Therafter the end of ampule 21 which mounts stopper 28 is introduced-into the syringe barrel. By bringing pressure to bear on the opposite or outer end of the ampule the thrust or post portion 34 of the barrel will bear against stopper 28 and diluent will be forced through the bore of stopper 30 into compartment 33. The ampule may now be Withdrawn from the barrel and agitated to assure of the creation of a proper solution.

The opposite end of the ampule is thereupon introduced into the barrel. With such introduction the inner pointed end of the needle which extends beyond the thrust portion will pierce stopper 29, Thereupon, byV further pressing against the opposite or outer end of the ampule the medicament Will be forced into and through the bore of the needle in the usual manner. Should it be desirable .to manually maintain stoppers 28 and Si! in physical contact during this expulsion of the medicament, then of course, a thrust member similar to tube IS might be employed to press against the outer face of stopper 28. In lieu of this tube Va. plug 34 of a diameter such that it may enter the bore of thev ampulecould be employed.Y According to either of the latter procedures it might also be possible to dis-- pense with a syringe of the thrust or post type as afore described and simply employ any suitable structure such as a tube, rod or plug toinitially project the stopper 28 and thereafter to project Stoppers 28 and 30 as a unit to Aexpel themedicament. Such unit Vprojection of Stoppers 28 and Sil will, of course, not be necessary if the solution is Withdrawn by an aspirating action on the part of a conventional syringe assembly.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically afore noted are achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts may beV resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened by the claims. Y

I claim: i

Vl. In a syringe assembly a tube, a stopper adjacent one end of said tube, a second stopper within said tube and spaced from said rst namedstopper, said second stopper being formed with an opening, a removable rod extending through said opening and having ran outer end beyond said tube, the diameter of said rod being greater than'the normal diameter-of said opening, and

a cap secured topsaid tube and encircling the,V

outer end or" said rod. y

2. In a syringe assembly a syringe barrel having an open rear endaV needle-mounting tip at Y the opposite end f of said barrel,` said tip beingl formed witha bore, a stopper mountedwithin saidvbarrel adjacent the open end of the, same, a second stopper also mounted Withinsaid barrel at a point `spaced from said4 rst named stopper and said tip to4 provide compartments adjacent each end of said barreLfa rod .extending beyond and through the boreY ofA saidV tip and through said second stopper to prevent communication between said compartments, the diameter of Vsaid rodbeing greater than the initial diameter of the opening formedin said second stopper and a cap mounted by vsaid vtip'and encircling the portion of the rod extendingbeyond the latter.

8. In a syringe assembly a syringe barrel having an open rear end, a needle-mounting tip at the opposite end of said barrel, said tip being formed with a bore, a stopper mounted within said barrel adjacent the open end of the same, a second stopper also mounted within said barrel at a point spaced from said rst named stopper and said tip to provide compartments adjacent each end of said barrel, a rod extending beyond and through the bore of said tip and through said second stopper to prevent communication between said compartments, the diameter of said rod being greater than the initial diameter of the opening formed in said second stopper and a resilient cap yieldingly mounted upon said tip and encircling that part of the rod which extends beyond the latter.

4. In a syringe assembly in combination a tube having at least one open end, a perforated part at the opposite end of said tube, a piston-type stopper disposed within said tube adjacent the open end thereof, a bored stopper of resilient material also disposed within said tube at a point between and spaced from said piston-type stopper and perforated part to provide on opposite sides of said bored stopper compartments to receive medicament and diluent respectively, a rod extending through the perforation of said part and through one of said compartments and the diameter of said rod being greater than the bore of said resilient stopper whereby it is extendable into such bore to intimately engage the surfaces thereof to establish direct sealing contact `therewith and to simultaneously expand the outer edge of said bored stopper into similar contact with the tube surface.

5. For use in a syringe assembly a tube having open ends, a bored stopper disposed adjacent one of said ends, a piston-type stopper adjacent the opposite end thereof, a further bored stopper of resilient material also disposed within said tube at a point between and spaced from said firstnamed Stoppers to provide on opposite sides of said further stopper compartments to receive medicament and diluent respectively, a rod extendable through the bore of said first-named stopper and through one of Y said compartments and the diameter of said rod being greater than the bore of said further stopper whereby said rod is extendable into such stopper bore to intimately engage the surfaces thereof to establishl direct sealing contact therewith and to simultaneously expand the outer edge of said further stopper into similar contact with the tube surface.

6. A syringe assembly including in combination a barrel having one open end, a bored needlemounting tip adjacent its opposite end, a pistontype stopper disposed within said barrel adjacent the open end thereof, a bored stopper of resilient material also disposed within said barrel at a point between and spaced from said piston-type stopper and tip to provide on opposite sides of said bored stopper compartments to receive medicament and diluent respectively, a rod extending through the bore of said tip and through one of said compartments and the diameter' of said rod being greater than the bore of said resilient stopper whereby said rod is extendable into such bore to intimately engage the surfaces thereof to establish direct sealing contact therewith and to simultaneously expand the outer edge of said bored stopper into similar contact with the barrel surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,275,315 Smith Aug. 13, 1918 1,431,860 Zurbrigg Oct. 10, 1922 1,767,304 Morton June 24, 1930 1,817,003 Hein Aug. 4, 1931 1,848,711 Hall Mar. 8, 1932 2,153,594 Sair Apr. 11, 1939 2,168,437 Buercklin Aug. 8, 1939 2,408,323 Lockhart Sept. 24, 1946 2,453,591 lPoux Nov. 9, 1948 2,475,060 Smith July 5, 1949 2,551,414 Burnside May 1, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 282,622 Germany Mar. l1, 1915 

